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I absolutely hate bouncy castles, and think that they should all be pricked several times with a large pin and put in the recycling bin. And to add fuel to my fire there has been a big increase in bouncy castle injuries of late.

The youth organisation, Boys’ Brigade, has reported that there are approximately 10,000 bouncy castle related injuries in the UK every year, which include cuts, broken bones, and head and neck injuries.

“Most of the injuries are caused by children bouncing off the inflatable and onto the ground, being hit by other children, or just falling awkwardly,” says the charity.

Experts have been voicing their concerns about the dangers of these large inflatables and are now calling for safety guidelines to be put in place, as well as making parents more aware of the potential risks, and improving the design.

Unfortunately, when you have two young children, it is virtually impossible to avoid bouncy castles. They are absolutely everywhere you go: birthday parties, school fetes, pub gardens, the beach.

My heart sinks when my kids spot a bouncy castle, because they invariably want to go on it. Gone are the blissful toddler days when they weren’t bold enough to have a go, and instead would delight in trying on all the kids’ shoes at the foot of the castle.

One recently popped up in the garden of our local farm shop, but thankfully (on this occasion) I clocked it before my children did, and made a sharp exit out of the car park, nervously telling them that I couldn’t remember what I needed to buy (they had to have water on their Weetabix the following morning).

To me, letting my precious children loose on an inflatable monstrosity where there are many much older and bigger kids flailing around uncontrollably and trying to climb up the inflatable walls so they can jump off the top, is a recipe for disaster.

So unless there are no more than three little children delicately pottering around on there, preferably sitting or lying down, I will often be heard saying though clenched teeth: “Come on, don’t make a scene, let’s go and find you a yummy ice-cream instead.” I then get screamed at and nagged and told what a cruel mother I am for the rest of the week.

But if I am saving my girls from serious injury, or from being jumped on by someone five stone heavier than them, then I am willing to put up with it.

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12 Responses to Huge increase in bouncy castle injuries

sadiesays:

30 November, 2012 at 13:28

I’m with you, I hate the things. It’s not the bouncing around, it’s the falling off/older kids who see it a good idea to wallop into anyone smaller than them.

Mind you, got to say that recently my daughter went to one of the stupidest ‘parties’ in the world. A mum decided to hold it at a gym, fine I though, lots of parties are held at gyms or community centres etc. Turned out the kids were let loose in the gym WITHOUT SUPERVISION. I was not happy. No mention of it on the invite, and the mum didn’t bother to tell anyone. So some of the gym bunnies turned up in leotards and backflipped their way around, the rest were in party dresses and trying to balance on beams that they’d never walked on before. Obviously I stayed to keep an eye on my girl. She took a nasty tumble, I had to get her checked out by the manageress, and she needed a day off school as she was in pain the next day.

Bouncy castles don’t seem too bad after that.

I digress. I don’t like bouncy things or dangerous situations full stop, but I like it less that I’m seen as a freak because I can see accidents waiting to happen, and apparently, you’re meant to let them go and hurt themselves just so you don’t look like an over protective mummy to others.

I’ll always be the OPM, and do what I can to keep my little one safe. And that means carrying a big old pin around with me at all times … watch out poxy bouncy castles! ;o)

Just like to say that there is a organisation called RPII Play Inspectors http://www.playinspectors.com/RPII-Inspectors who monitor the design and safety of inflatable castles and other inflatable games, a bouncy castle is quite safe if properly supervised by a competent person and properly installed by the hirer. For more information contact us at http://www.brinflatables.co.uk

A professionally run bouncy castle hire business always think of safety first. We take our bouncy castles to numerous public houses and always have staff watching play. I agree the main problem for us is various age groups but then you are there to organise the activity.

The same article could have been written about parks or play areas. There is generally is no supervision at all. I suppose you get companies who don’t have insurance or even care about children having accidents. We just couldn’t run our business like that.

Bouncy Castles can be safe if used and followed as per the hire terms and conditions. The problem is most hirers are only small part time hirers who hire out un tested, un safe and old inflatables and don’t provide any guidance on use. This is mainly because of the market and people/parents wanting cheap hirers and the price is all they are worried about.

Mickey Mousesays:

29 December, 2014 at 19:54

I seriously think you people need to get a grip. Bouncy castles are not dangerous. There is more danger in letting your child go to school everyday and play in the play ground with older children. How many children do YOU know that have been injured on a bouncy castle? well for me it is ZERO and I have been to many bouncy castle parties! I think that is exactly what is wrong with society today, some people want to wrap their children in cotton wool and stick them in front of an x-box all day.

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